semi truck accident lawyers Truck Accident Law

A serious injury resulting from an accident with trucks can result in the death of the victim in medical bills. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.

Following a collision, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified attorney will assist you in proving your case by using evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, etc.

Vehicles that are poorly maintained

Owner-operators and trucking companies typically fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This can lead to a high percentage of preventable accidents each year.

Compared to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavy loads. Unfortunately keeping deadlines and increasing profits can often take precedence over maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical breakdowns that can lead to devastating accidents.

The brakes on trucks must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a moment's notice. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck are worn out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components must be regularly checked and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good condition.

Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction, which causes the truck to skid or even tip over. Tires that aren't working because of inadequate tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or if the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions it could cause an accident. In these situations, a firm that hired the repair or maintenance shop or supervised it could be held liable.

Another major cause of truck accidents is defective signals, lights and reflectors. These elements must function correctly to enable drivers to be aware of and anticipate the movements of the truck particularly when driving in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers may fail to maintain and inspect these items, or may not perform daily safety inspections.

A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your case to determine which parties may be accountable for your injuries should you be injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.

Distracted Drivers

The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These massive trucks can weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and cause far more injuries when involved in an accident. While many factors contribute to accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most common and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize an issue on the road, leading to serious and life-threatening injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they could still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be the result of distractions caused by manual actions like dropping a hand off of the wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.

While most people are aware that it is risky to text and drive, very few are aware that other activities, such as eating or changing the station on the radio or even talking to passengers can be deemed to be distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they may wander off into another lane, or fail to notice the traffic jam ahead of them. It takes only a split second for a large truck to crash into a vehicle when the trucker's focus is diverted.

When a truck accident occurs due to a distracted driver it is vital to capture photos of the crash scene and gather the contact details and name of witnesses. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be at least partially responsible for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic losses.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety settings for example, at an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to observe the road ahead for traffic coming in. It can also happen if an automobile crosses the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to brake suddenly without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.

It can be hard to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions because it's not always certain the vehicle that was at fault. However, an experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that shows the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or driving distracted. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks left on the roadway.

Sometimes the driver in front might be responsible for the accident in addition. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the very last minute which causes the driver behind to slam into the car directly in front of them. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws can come into play, where the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.

Lacerations and Bruises

The rear of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end crash, so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or firm back window. They can also suffer broken bones as they are scattered around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be very serious. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that regulate the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal column may cause serious and lasting issues for those affected.

A person who is the victim of a serious accident might also suffer psychological and emotional trauma. They may have difficulty being able to sleep or concentrate, which can lead them to depression and anxiety. If they are unable work due to the seriousness of their injury this can cause stress and financial hardship. An attorney will investigate the possible causes of liability to ensure that the victim receives an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.

The trailer hitches are faulty.

No matter if you're driving either a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely attached to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in an accident involving an unhitched trailer, call a qualified vehicle accident attorney who specializes in cases involving hitch failure as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be caused by a variety which can range from inadequate security or design. It could be caused by an issue on the part of the manufacturer in which case product liability law could be applicable. The person or company that is at the fault for a trailer that is defective is liable for victims' medical bills and auto repair expenses, and other damages resulting from the incident.

For instance in a fatal crash that was reported in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck and slid head-on into two cars behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in failing examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch involved in the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high percentage of occasions.

Due to the faulty hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.

The driver of the truck involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However experts say he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he had done a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause major disasters, as these types of incidents typically involve a substantial amount of speed and can easily hit smaller cars or motorcycles. In these cases the trailer can distort the car's frame and create sharp metal fragments to impale any passengers.